C.S. Lewis on Marriage Protection
“... I should like to distinguish two things which are very often confused. The Christian conception of marriage is one: the other is the quite different question -- how far Christians, if they are voters or Members of Parliament, ought to try to force their views of marriage on the rest of the community by embodying them in the divorce laws. A great many people seem to think that if you are a Christian yourself you should try to make divorce difficult for every one.
I do not think that. At least I know I should be very angry if the Mahommedans (sic) tried to prevent the rest of us from drinking wine. My own view is that the Churches should frankly recognise that the majority of the British people are not Christians and, therefore, cannot be expected to live Christian lives. There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage: one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members. The distinction ought to be quite sharp, so that a man knows which couples are married in a Christian sense and which are not.
From Mere Christianity, Chapter 16:
Is he right? (RR)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
3 comments:
I don't know if he's right but I agree with him. As far as divorce goes..legal marriages are much easier to get out of than true, committed Christian marriages. Of course, some folks are blessed enough to have both.
I think he's right. It kind of goes along with Paul saying that it isn't his job to monitor what people outside the church do, but those within it. Maybe "church" weddings should be reserved for christian marriages.
Must admit rachel I lean towards your last sentence. it would be good of course for all marraiges to be thus, but....
Inside our wedding rings is a verse... Ecc 4:12(b) -- have a look!
Post a Comment